Saturday, September 1, 2012

Meltdown Mama

"Do what you can do, and God will do what we can't do." I read this Joyce Meyer quote on Facebook this morning. (Yes, I do my own reading, but sometimes I just copy and paste someone else's. Don't hate.) And it was kind of neat because I was already on the verge of a meltdown this morning, even AFTER spending some time studying real joy and where it comes from. The reason for my anxiety? A packed schedule for this weekend, a house full of kids with various activities to go to, and every room has at least a half inch of dust collecting on the surfaces. Not to mention, a three-yr-old on a prescription laxative, another who is having nosebleeds every half hour, and a teenager who neglected to tell me he would be staying at a friend's house last night, nearly causing me a heart attack when I awoke to find him gone. Sometimes I look around and think to myself "This is too much for anybody."

The word "meltdown" takes on a whole new meaning after age 35, ladies. The minute a situation starts to get a little bit stressful, I feel the heatwave rising up and all of a sudden, I am sweating as if I were in gym class. (Not that I ever did much sweating in gym class, mind you. I somehow managed to avoid anything that might cause me to do anything more than glisten.) So meltdowns are actually just as literal as they are figurative for me these days. Melting makeup, melting mascara, melting hairdo. You get the picture. My vanity rages against this post, I should probably admit. It is like hanging out a sign over my head that says "Old lady. Right here." with arrows pointing down at my melting face.

While being a "hot-flash mama" (in the words of a friend) is bad enough in itself, it is nothing compared to the herculean task of trying to muster up enough self-control to not explode in those moments. I mean spew like a volcano. All over this precious family who probably wonders where the heck their mommy/wife/stepmom is and who is this crazy alien being who has taken over. In fact, I have proof they are wondering. This is a conversation from the van (where all the best conversations happen) yesterday afternoon:

Going to get the big kids from school, I was singing to Gracie, "I love Gracie, yes I do" when she stopped me and said "No. But you like me a little bit." Ouch. Then Hudson chimed in and said "I love the real you, Mommy. But I like you too." What?? The"Real Me"?? Then who the heck is driving this van? I tried not to let it bother me too much, but it kind of lingered in the back of my mind all day.

Truth is, I don't like me some days either. And I wonder where the "Real Me" has gone to and whether she plans to return. And that is depressing enough to make me forget a few things. Things like the fact that I have a really blessed life. A husband who loves me even when I'm not so lovable, kids who are quick to give me grace... I went to bed early last night because I was sick of myself. I fell asleep with the light on and my book on the bed. Lexi came in to say good night, she put my book away, kissed my cheek and turned off the light. I don't want to forget that sweet moment, or trample on it by exploding on her today. So I pray. And I pray. And I pray some more. And I often don't feel that it does any good in the moment. But I know it is changing me. Teaching me to be a little less independent, a little more dependent on His Spirit at work in me, Christ in me, the hope of glory...

I have high hopes for the hormone balancing meds I start this week. But, if they fail, and I have to live with myself just like this, I pray that God will use even this to make me a little more mature, a little more complete in Him. What a comfort to know He can redeem anything. Let me say that again in case you missed it. He can redeem anything. The hard things that happen to us, the painful consequences of our own choices, and even the mutiny of our own bodies against us. I believe that. More than believe, I know firsthand. This is just another opportunity to find Him at work, if I will seek Him with my whole heart.

Can I just say, for the sake of whining to you gals, that getting older really stinks?? My friend BobiAnn says that if we say it once, it isn't complaining, it is simply stating a fact. If we keep on saying it then we are complaining. So I guess this post is my one chance to state the fact without being guilty of complaining and grumbling. That is NOT in any way a promise that I won't bring it up again.

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About Me

Just your ordinary wife, mom, step-mom, daughter, sister, friend... Muddling through the beautiful mess of a life God has blessed me with. Grace-seeking, counting blessings in the midst of the CHAOS, and trusting Him to make it all Beautiful in His time.... Choosing to believe that ALL is Grace.